Aberdeen school term dates & holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
Compiled from Aberdeen City Council's published calendar · last checked 7 September 2026
These are the official school term dates and holidays set by Aberdeen City Council for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years: term start and finish dates, half terms, and the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. We take the dates straight from the council's own published calendar (linked below), convert them into one consistent format, and recheck them each academic year. School-day counts exclude weekends and half term but not inset days, which individual schools choose themselves.
Aberdeen term dates 2026/27
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn term 2026 term | Monday 17 August 2026 | Friday 18 December 2026 | 80 school days |
| October half term holiday | Monday 12 October 2026 | Friday 23 October 2026 | |
| Christmas holiday holiday | Saturday 19 December 2026 | Monday 4 January 2027 | |
| Spring term 2027 term | Tuesday 5 January 2027 | Thursday 25 March 2027 | 57 school days |
| February half term holiday | Monday 8 February 2027 | — | |
| Easter holiday holiday | Friday 26 March 2027 | Sunday 11 April 2027 | |
| Summer term 2027 term | Monday 12 April 2027 | Friday 2 July 2027 | 60 school days |
- Council publishes four terms: Term 1 (Mon 17 Aug to Fri 9 Oct 2026), Term 2 (Mon 26 Oct to Fri 18 Dec 2026), Term 3 (Tue 5 Jan to Thu 25 Mar 2027), Term 4 (Mon 12 Apr to Fri 2 Jul 2027)
- In-service day: Friday 14 August 2026
- September holiday: Friday 18 September to Monday 21 September 2026
- October holiday: Monday 12 October to Friday 23 October 2026
- In-service day: Friday 13 November 2026
- Christmas holiday: Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027
- Mid-term holiday: Monday 8 February 2027; in-service days Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 February 2027
- Spring holiday: Friday 26 March to Friday 9 April 2027
- May Day holiday: Monday 3 May 2027; in-service day Tuesday 4 May 2027
Aberdeen term dates 2027/28
| Period | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn term 2027 term | Tuesday 24 August 2027 | Tuesday 21 December 2027 | 76 school days |
| October half term holiday | Monday 11 October 2027 | Friday 22 October 2027 | |
| Christmas holiday holiday | Wednesday 22 December 2027 | Tuesday 4 January 2028 | |
| Spring term 2028 term | Wednesday 5 January 2028 | Friday 31 March 2028 | 62 school days |
| February half term holiday | Monday 14 February 2028 | — | |
| Easter holiday holiday | Saturday 1 April 2028 | Sunday 16 April 2028 | |
| Summer term 2028 term | Monday 17 April 2028 | Thursday 6 July 2028 | 59 school days |
- Council publishes four terms: Term 1 (Tue 24 Aug to Fri 8 Oct 2027), Term 2 (Mon 25 Oct to Tue 21 Dec 2027), Term 3 (Wed 5 Jan to Fri 31 Mar 2028), Term 4 (Mon 17 Apr to Thu 6 Jul 2028)
- In-service day: Monday 23 August 2027
- September holiday: Friday 17 September to Monday 20 September 2027
- October holiday: Monday 11 October to Friday 22 October 2027
- In-service day: Friday 12 November 2027
- Christmas holiday: Wednesday 22 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028
- Mid-term holiday: Monday 14 February 2028; in-service days Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 February 2028
- Spring holiday: Monday 3 April to Friday 14 April 2028
- May Day holiday: Monday 1 May 2028; in-service day Tuesday 2 May 2028
Common questions
When is October half term in Aberdeen?
October half term in Aberdeen runs from Monday 12 October 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026. Pupils return the following school day.
When do Aberdeen schools break up for Christmas?
The autumn term in Aberdeen ends on Friday 18 December 2026, so that is the last day of school before the Christmas holiday.
When do Aberdeen schools break up for summer?
The summer term ends on Friday 2 July 2027. The summer holiday starts the next day.
Is Aberdeen's October half term the same as neighbouring councils?
Partly. Of the 31 other Scotland councils we cover, 10 share Aberdeen's October half term week in 2026/27, while Angus, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Western Isles differ. If your children attend schools under different councils, check both pages before booking.
Do all schools in Aberdeen follow these dates?
No. These are Aberdeen City Council's published dates for community and voluntary-controlled schools. Academies, free schools, foundation schools and private schools set their own calendars, and every school adds its own inset days. Check with your school before booking anything you can't refund.